Mark Deli Siljander, a former U.S. congressman from Michigan, pleaded guilty in federal court on July 7, 2010, to obstruction of justice and to acting as an unregistered foreign agent for the Islamic American Relief Agency (IARA)-a charity with ties to international terrorism, reported Howard "Ike" Hendershot, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced today an expansion of its ongoing humanitarian assistance for victims of flooding in Pakistan, which has included providing shelter materials, emergency food supplies and preventative medical care to curb potential disease outbreaks.

The additional $20 million brings the total financial assistance to date from the United States to $55 million. As the flood waters recede and the overall needs in Pakistan become better known, these contributions may continue to grow.

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is ramping up its Pakistan flood relief operations to include airlifts of heavy-duty waterproof plastic sheeting that will be provided along with materials purchased locally, such as wood, nails and rope, to construct temporary shelters for families whose homes have been damaged or swept away by flood waters.

In response to the massacre of 10 volunteer medical workers for the International Assistance Mission in Badakshan Province in Afghanistan, Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, has issued the following statement.

On August 6, 2010, Susan Fritz was sworn in as Mission Director of the USAID Mission to Serbia and Montenegro at a ceremony officiated by Hilda Arellano, Counselor for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Washington, DC - In 2009, NGOs across Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia were at the forefront of the issues facing their societies, from elections to discrimination to environmental degradation, according to a new study released by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This study, released on July 30, is the 13th edition of the NGO Sustainability Index, a key analytical tool that measures the progress of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in this region.

Washington, D.C. - As part of the U.S. government's response to the flooding in Pakistan, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing an additional $25 million to assist Pakistanis in need. This includes a $15 million contribution to the U.N. World Food Program - primarily for the local and regional purchase of food aid and the dispatch of food from USAID's prepositioning site - and $10 million to expand existing emergency programs and aid programs that address needs identified by the Government of Pakistan.

Washington, D.C. - Today, Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), joined President Obama at the White House for the President's Town Hall with young African leaders to discuss their vision for Africa for the next 50 years.

The115 young men and women are in Washington for the President's Forum with Young African Leaders. These young leaders, representing civil society and the private sector, are already playing a key role in shaping their countries' future security and prosperity

WASHINGTON, DC - As part of President Obama's commitment to partner with and strengthen African institutions, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the African Union signed their first long-term assistance agreement to advance prosperity, peace, and stability in Africa. The agreement extends through 2013 and covers programs worth approximately $5.8 million through FY 2011.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In response to the flooding in Northwest Pakistan, the U.S. Government has rushed food, clean water and rescue supplies to the affected region as part of an initial $10 million pledge for immediate humanitarian aid.

Washington, DC - Today, Charles North was sworn in as Mission Director of the USAID Mission to Russia at a ceremony officiated by Hilda Arellano, Counselor for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Washington, DC - USAID Administrator released a statement today about the U.S. strategy to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs):

The Obama Administration's strategy for meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), "Celebrate, Innovate, and Sustain: Toward 2015 and Beyond", lays out a determined, strategic and results-focused plan that promises to both reenergize efforts to achieve the MDGs and strengthen the United States' voice in the global development dialogue.

Washington, D.C. - The Partnership for Supply Chain Management (PFSCM), a partner of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has won two prestigious awards for groundbreaking work on PEPFAR's Supply Chain Management System (SCMS). PFSCM received the Supply Chain Innovation Award and Best Value Supply Chain Provider Award during the European Supply Chain and Logistics Summit held in Prague.

Washington, DC - Mubarak Hamed pleaded guilty in federal court on June 25, 2010, for his role in a conspiracy to illegally transfer over $1 million to Iraq in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and to obstruct the administration of the laws governing tax-exempt charities, according to Howard "Ike" Hendershot, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

SAN SALVADOR-The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), signed a public-private alliance July 14 with Microsoft El Salvador and the Sagrera Palomo Foundation to bring educational opportunities to low-income, at-risk youth in El Salvador.

"We truly believe that students can achieve their dreams, and we imagine a generation pursuing their ideals and making a daily effort to meet their academic objectives and other personal goals," said Director of USAID El Salvador, Larry Brady, during the signing ceremony.

Following the commitment by Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev at the June 24th U.S.-Russia Summit to promote energy efficiency and green technology, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Russian Energy Agency (REA) on July 21 signed a Protocol of Intent to deepen collaboration on energy efficiency, "smart grid" technology, and clean energy. The agreement will foster partnerships with U.S. and Russian utilities, regulators and others to share information and best practices.

Following is the text of a joint statement by AusAID Director General Peter Baxter and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States Agency for International Development and the Australian Agency for International Development on June 10, 2010.

Build Haiti’s Local Capacity for Disaster Response During Week-Long Training in Northern Haiti

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) facilitated Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) training to twenty-five volunteer first responders in Haiti this week to help build Haitian local capacity for disaster response, USAR experts from Fairfax County (VA) and Los Angeles County (CA) trained first responders from fire departments throughout the West Department from July 12-18, 2010. Those selected to attend the specialized training – nine from Cap-Haitien, eight from Carrefour, six from Limbe, two from St. Marc, and one from Delmas – are all volunteer firefighters.